Hudson Confidential: 'Granny's Law' likely to become N.Y. law soon

We've had Megan's Law and Amber's Law and all sorts of other laws named for the people who inspired them.

We've had Megan's Law and Amber's Law and all sorts of other laws named for the people who inspired them.

Now it looks like we're about to get "Granny's Law" here in New York State, according to state Sen. William Larkin, R-C-Cornwall-on-Hudson.

Larkin and the Senate Majority Conference first introduced this law last year after the brutal, headline-grabbing Queens attack on 101-year-old Rose Morat, who was on her way to church. The same suspect beat and mugged 85-year-old Solange Elizee 30 minutes later.

Larkin said Granny's Law will make a physical attack on someone 65 or older, by someone who is more than 10 years younger than the victim, a felony. Currently such an attack is a misdemeanor.

"It is an absolute shame that these attacks had to take place to make us aware of this problem with the law," Larkin said.

Since it's now passed both the Senate and Assembly overwhelmingly, we'll go out on a limb here and predict that, even with all the other distractions in his first couple of weeks on the job, Gov. David Paterson will find time to sign this into law real soon.

Michael Randall

This must be the week for town clerks working overtime.

Cornwall Town Clerk Elaine Tilford Schneer's office will remain open today for a three-hour evening shift, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

And on Saturday, New Windsor Town Clerk Deborah Green will be open from 9 a.m. to noon.

If you're in need of a license, a notary's signature on an important document or any of the other services the clerks' offices normally provide, but just can't get to Town Hall during regular business hours, this is your chance.

There will be an added attraction at each location: At Cornwall, the office of the receiver of taxes will also be open from 4:30 to 7:30 this evening. With March 31 being the last day to pay your tax bill at Town Hall, this would be the time to take care of that little matter.

And, at New Windsor on Saturday, Orange County Legislator Chris Eachus will be there to hear from his constituents. He represents parts of both New Windsor and Cornwall, so if you're in his district, this is your chance to tell him what's on your mind.

Michael Randall

When our reporters make routine calls to police to see if anything happened overnight, the officers and dispatchers sometimes look for creative ways to tell us they have nothing to report.

Here's one of the best we've heard in a while, as noted by one of our New Windsor bureau reporters one cold morning this past week: